Dual-loop restraining device

ABSTRACT

A flexible tie comprises a flexible strap having a head portion and an opposing end portion. The head portion of the strap includes first and second slots. A dual-loop restraining device is formed using two straps by inserting the end portion of each strap through the first and second slots in the other strap. In use, the loops are tightened around a prisoner&#39;s arms or legs to restrain the prisoner&#39;s movement.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to restraining devices for useby law enforcement officials, and more particularly, to flexible,self-locking restraining ties for binding a prisoner's hands or feet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional restraining devices used by law enforcement officials,military, and correctional officers include handcuffs for restraining aperson's hands and leg irons for restraining a person's legs. Thesetypes of restraining devices typically comprise two heavy metal cuffsthat are secured to one another by chains. The cuffs fit around theprisoner's arms or legs and include some form of locking device toprevent their removal.

There are certain circumstances in which an alternate form ofrestraining device could be useful. For example, law enforcementofficials typically carry a single pair of handcuffs due to the size andweight of the handcuffs. When the law enforcement officer makes multiplearrests, there is a need for additional restraining devices. Yet it isimpractical for the law enforcement officer to carry a large number ofhandcuffs.

Another problem encountered when using conventional restraining devicesoccurs when the prisoner is transferred from one law enforcement agencyto another. When the transfer is made, one set of handcuffs and/or legirons is removed from the prisoner and another set of handcuffs and/orleg irons is applied. Such close contact with the prisoner unnecessarilyexposes the law enforcement officers to an attack from a potentiallydangerous prisoner.

Disposable cuffs for restraining prisoners are sold by several differentmanufacturers. Representative examples of such devices are shown in U.S.Pat. Nos. 3,186,047 and 5,621,949. Such restraints typically comprise aflexible strap that is used to form loops around the prisoner's arms orlegs. The strap includes an enlarged head portion having a slot. Thefree end of the strap is inserted through the slot to form a loop aroundthe prisoner's wrist or ankle. The slot has a locking pawl that permitsone-way movement of the strap. Once the strap is tightened around theprisoner's wrist or ankle, it cannot be loosened. The strap is removedby cutting the strap. To restrain a prisoner, two straps are interlockedThe second strap is inserted through the loop in the first strap beforeit is secured in its respective slot.

Dual-loop restraining devices of the type described above are alsoknown. Representative examples of such devices are shown in U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,910,831; 5,159,728; 5,398,383; and 5,443,155. These patentsillustrate dual-loop restraining devices that include a central memberhaving slots and two strap elements extending from opposing ends of thecentral member. The ends of the strap elements are inserted through theslots in the central member to form loops. The strap typically includesa series of teeth which are engaged by a pawl in the slots to lock thestrap in place and prevent it from being withdrawn.

One limitation associated with the dual-loop restraining devices is thatthey lack any means to adjust the spacing between the loops. Forparticularly large and bulky prisoners with limited range of motion, thefixed spacing between loops may not be enough to allow the prisoner'shands to be cuffed behind the prisoner's back. Similar difficulty may beencountered when arresting a person with an injury or disability. Also,for a prisoner who poses a safety hazard to the law enforcement officer,it may be desirable to bind his or her hands or feet closely together toreduce the risk associated with the handling of the prisoner. On theother hand, for a prisoner who is cooperative and does not propose arisk to the law enforcement officer, it may be desirable to allow somefreedom of movement for the prisoner's comfort.

Another problem with dual-loop restraining devices is that they are morecostly to manufacture and have limited utility. Therefore, dual-looprestraining devices are not used as frequently as the conventionalsingle loop restraints.

Another dual-loop restraining device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. 5,651,376to Applicant. The '376 patent discloses a dual-loop restraining devicemade using two flexible ties. The flexible ties include a head portionhaving two slots and a strap. Each strap is formed into a loop byinserting the free end of the strap through a first slot in the headportion. The ties are then interconnected with one another by insertingthe free end of each strap through a second slot in the head portion ofthe other strap.

U.S. Pat. Application Ser. No. 09/161,575 filed Sep. 28, 1998 byapplicant also discloses a dual loop restraining device using twoflexible ties. the flexible tie is this application includes a headportion and strap. The head portion includes three- slots. The flexibletie can be used singly or with another flexible tie to form a dual-looprestraining device.

The above-mentioned U.S. Pat. 5,651,376 and U.S. Pat. Application Ser.No. 09/161,575 are incorporated herein by reference.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is bottom plan view of a strap suitable for forming a dual-looprestraining device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the head portion of the strap.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the head portion of the strap.

FIG. 4 is a sectional perspective view of the head portion of the strap.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section view of the head portion with theflexible straps inserted through the slots in the head portion.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section view of the head portion in analternate embodiment.

FIGS. 7A -7D are a series of perspective views illustrating how twostraps are used to form a dual-loop restraining device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a flexible, dual-loop restraining device thatcan be employed by law enforcement officers in place of handcuffs or legirons. The dual-loop restraining device of the present inventioncomprises two flexible straps, each having an enlarged head portion atone end and an opposing insert end. At least two slots are formed in thehead portion of each strap. A pawl is located in at least one of the twoslots. The pawl engages the strap to allow one-way movement of the strapthrough the slot.

To use the restraining device, the insert end of each strap insertedthrough the first and second slots in the head portion of the otherstrap forming two interconnected loops. The loops should be ofsufficient size to allow insertion of the prisoner's hands or feet intothe loops. The loops are then tightened around the prisoner's arms orlegs.

In one embodiment of the invention, each strap includes a stop to limitinsertion of the strap through the first and second slots. The stopsalso serve to provide a fixed spacing between the loops of therestraining device.

The restraining device can be quickly and conveniently employed by lawenforcement officers in place of handcuffs. Because the restrainingdevice is lightweight and inexpensive to produce, a plurality of suchdevices can be carried by law enforcement officers. This aspect of theinvention is particularly useful when the need for multiple arrestsarises. Also, because the restraining device is disposable, there is noneed to interchange the restraining device when a prisoner istransferred from one law enforcement agency of another.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent and obvious from a study of the following description and theaccompanying drawings, which are merely illustrative of such invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the Figures, the flexible, dual-loop restraining deviceof the present invention is shown therein and indicated generally by thenumeral 10. The dual loop restraining device 10 comprises an elongated,flexible strap 20 having an enlarged head portion 40. The strap has atapered end 22 opposite the head portion 40. The strap 20 includes aflat top surface. A channel 24 is formed in a bottom surface of thestrap 20. The channel 24 includes a series of closely spaced, positivelocking teeth 26 which are bounded on each side by smooth, rounded rails28. Each of the teeth 26 includes a sloped camming surface and asubstantially vertical locking surface. The channel 24 extends along thelength of the strap 20 and ends approximately 4-6 inches from the headportion 40. A stop 60 is integrally formed with the strap 20 adjacentthe end of the channel 24. The stop 60 in the exemplary embodimentcomprises a pair of tapered projections formed on the sides of the strap20.

The head portion 40, shown in more detail in FIGS. 2-6, includes threeslots—a non-locking slot 42 and a pair of locking slots 44, 46. Thenon-locking slot 42 has smooth sidewalls to allow the strap 20 to movefreely therein in two directions. Each locking slot 44, 46, in contrast,is designed to allow movement of the strap 20 in only a singledirection. Each locking slot 44, 46 includes a pawl 48 having a seriesof locking teeth 50 which are designed to engage the locking teeth 26 onthe strap 20. The pawl 48 allows the strap 20 to be inserted through theslot 44, 46 in only a single direction. The pawl 48 flexes away from thestrap 20 as the strap is inserted into the locking slot 44, 46. When thestrap 20 moves in the opposite direction, the pawl 48 locks against thestrap 20 to prevent the backward movement of the strap 20. Thus, thepawl 48 prevents the withdrawal of the strap 20 from the slot 44, 46once the strap 20 is inserted into the locking slot 44, 46. The pawls 48in the locking slots 44, 46 are oriented to allow insertion of the strap20 through the locking slots 42, 44 in opposite directions.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the pawls 48 areintegrally molded with a central section 52 of the head portion 40. Eachpawl 48 includes a n arrow tie section 54 that joins the pawl to thecenter section 52. One potential problem is the pawl 48 may fail, i.e.be pulled through the slot, when subjected to excessive forces. Tominimize this danger, the present invention incorporates a stop member56 in each locking slot 44, 46 to keep the pawl 48 aligned in itsrespective slot 44, 46. The stop member 56 in the disclosed embodimentcomprises a rail integrally formed with opposing sidewalls of the slot44, 46. The pawl 48 includes a ledge 58 that contacts the stop member56. Together, the stop member 56 and ledge 58 prevent the pawl 48 fromtwisting in the slot 44, 46., This feature reduces the failure rate ofthe pawl 48, but is not an essential element of the invention.

FIG. 6 shows an alternate construction for the head portion 40. In thisembodiment, the pawls 48 comprise a metal barb embedded in the centerportion 52 so that the ends of the barb extend into respective lockingslots 44, 46.

The restraining device 10 is preferably molded as a single piece from alight-weight, thermoplastic material such as engineering grade, Nylon orpolyurethane. All corners and edges are preferably radiused to ensurethat the straps 20 do not cut into the prisoner's skin when tightened.

The restraining device 10 of the present invention may be convenientlyused as a of handcuff or leg iron as shown in FIGS. 7A-7D. To form theadjustable cuff, the free end of each strap 20 is inserted through thenon-locking slot 42 in head portion 40 of the other strap 20 as shown inFIG. 7A. The straps 20 are then pulled through until the stop 60 engagesthe head portion 40 of the other strap 20 as shown in FIG. 7B. The freeend of each strap 20 is then formed into a loop 16 and inserted througha first locking slot 44 as shown in FIG. 7C. At this point therestraining device is applied to the prisoner by inserting theprisoner's hands or feet through the loops 16, which are then tightenedaround the prisoner's arm or legs. The straps are tightened by pullingthe ends of the strap 20 to snug the loops 16 around the prisoner's armor legs. Once tightened, the loops 16 cannot be loosened. Therestraining device 10 can be removed only by cutting the straps 20. Thefree ends of the straps 20 may optionally be looped back and insertedthrough the second locking slot 46 as shown in FIG. 7D to provideadditional strength and security.

While the disclosed embodiment shows a strap 20 with three slots 42, 44,46, the present invention does not require all three slots. A dual-looprestraining device can be formed with only two slots in the head portion40. Only one of two slots is required to have a pawl or other lockingdevice. Thus, the head portion 40 could have one non-locking slot andone locking slot. Alternatively, the head portion 40 could have twolocking slots without a non-locking slot.

Also, a strap 20 having a single locking slot with a stop 60 formedalong its length, while not useful as a restraining device, may haveother beneficial uses. A strap 20 with a single locking slot and a stop60 could be used, for example, to form a loop of predetermined size.This could be useful to prevent over tightening the strap.

The present invention may, of course, be carried out in other specificways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit andessential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are,therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalencyrange of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:
 1. An adjustable restraining device comprising: (a)first and second straps each including a head portion at one end thereofand an opposing insert end; (b) first and second slots formed in therespective head portions of the first and second straps; (c) a firstloop formed by inserting the insert end of the first strap through thefirst and second slots in the head portion of the second strap; (d) asecond loop formed by inserting the insert end of the second strapthrough the first and second slots in the head portion of the firststrap; and (e) a pawl formed in at least one of the first and secondslots to engage the strap disposed therein and to prevent the strapdisposed therein from being withdrawn.
 2. The restraining device ofclaim 1 wherein the first strap further comprises a plurality of teethformed along the length thereof, and wherein the teeth are engaged bythe pawl.
 3. The restraining device of claim 1 wherein each strapfurther comprises a stop to limit insertion of the corresponding strapthrough the first and second slots.
 4. The restraining device of claim 1wherein both of said first and second slots include a pawl.
 5. Therestraining device of claim 4 wherein the pawl in the first slot allowsone way movement through the first slot in a first direction; andwherein the pawl in the second slot allows one way movement through thesecond slot in a second direction, the second direction opposite thefirst direction.
 6. The restraining device of claim 1 wherein the firstslot is a non-locking slot and the second slot is a locking slot, andwherein the pawl is disposed in the locking slot.
 7. The restrainingdevice of claim 6 wherein each strap further comprised a third lockingslot.